Typhoon not expected to disrupt Japanese MotoGP race

Fears that Typhoon Francisco could cause severe disruption to this weekend’s Japanese MotoGP clash at the Twin Ring Motegi appear to be diminishing.

Strong winds and heavy rain are still anticipated for the penultimate race of the season, but nothing that could severely disrupt this weekend’s proceedings, with Typhoon Francisco rapidly losing strength as this week has drawn on.

The International Race Teams Association (IRTA) and Doran have been constantly monitoring the potential impact Typhoon Francisco could have on what will be a pivotal race in the championship, with Marc Marquez leading Jorge Lorenzo by 18-points going into Sunday’s 24-lap race.

With three fully subscribed classes in the Moto world championship, several teams operate out of temporary tented structures, but a strategy was in place to take them down quickly if required.

IRTA paddock manager Geoff Dixon told MCN: “We have been working closely with the Twin Ring Motegi organisation to have all sorts of contingency plans in place for taking down and putting up tents and other temporary structures. We have been given the go ahead now to keep all the tents in place and we are meeting with the organisers twice a day because the final call is ultimately down to them. If they say we have got to take everything down then we have to react accordingly but we have contingency plans in place. Hopefully at the moment it doesn’t look like it will have a significant impact on the event. There will be a bit of wind and a bit of rain but none more than that.”

It was at the Twin Ring Motegi in 2009 that torrential rain battered the circuit and forced the cancellation of qualifying in all three classes.

And in 2011 the Twin Ring Motegi was cancelled in its original April slot and run in October after a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck Japan.